While you may never read this post verbatim, Mr. Mentz, I thought that I might address you directly here. We were given an extra credit assignment for this class, instructed to create 5 questions that we might want to ask you for your visit next week. While I may not know much about the Blue Humanities, there is something inherently interesting about them, something alluring that makes me want to learn more. So, my questions are:
- If there was a single word in the English Lexicon that you could change from terracentric to aquacentric, which word would you choose and why?
- Was there a particular piece of media that inspired you to pursue the Blue Humanities?
- What is an essential piece of media to consume when beginning the journey to understanding Blue Humanities? This can be fiction or fact, but it should be something that a person needs to spend time analyzing.
- What is your definitive edition of Moby Dick?
- What piece of media has done sincere harm to the Blue Humanities? How should one engage with this piece of media?
Thank you for taking the time to visit our class and impart on us wisdom regarding the Blue Humanities! I look forward to Tuesday, though I will have to miss the larger event due to a conflict in my schedule.
I have five short thoughtful questions to ask Mentz :
1- What inspired you to pursue your field of expertise, and how has it shaped your teaching style?
2- What do you think is the most important skill students should leave this class with?
3- How do you see the topics we’ve covered connecting to real-world issues today?
4- Is there a particular author, text, or idea you wish more students would explore beyond the syllabus?
5- What advice would you give students for continuing to grow in this subject after the course ends?
Great questions, and wonderful tone. I am eager to have you lead the conversation on Tuesday!
Yousef, please post yours as a separate post.
Thank you for the kind words! I developed a bad cold over the weekend, fortunately not COVID-19 or the Flu, and had to miss class. I hope that the discussion was a wonderfully deep and impassioned one! I feel poorer for having missed it, though grateful that I am well enough to come in on Thursday.